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In The Beach backpackers search for a hidden beach in Thailand, inaccessible to tourists. Since the movie was filmed in 1999, Maya Bay has become one of the main tourist attractions in Thailand. The film inspires visitors to make the trek to this secluded area for a glimpse of paradise.9601280

In The Beach backpackers search for a hidden beach in Thailand, inaccessible to tourists. Since the movie was filmed in 1999, Maya Bay has become one of the main tourist attractions in Thailand. The film inspires visitors to make the trek to this secluded area for a glimpse of paradise.

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The Eternal City's famous sights are the backdrop for the love story in the Roman Holiday. While the leads, played by Hollywood icons, Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, fall for each other, we fall for all things Italy. 9601280

The Eternal City's famous sights are the backdrop for the love story in the Roman Holiday. While the leads, played by Hollywood icons, Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck, fall for each other, we fall for all things Italy.

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Mamma Mia created a tourism boom to the Greek Islands for destination weddings. Mesmerized by the film's spectacular scenery, fans booked trips to this Mediterranean paradise to have a Big Fat Greek Wedding of their own.9601280

Mamma Mia created a tourism boom to the Greek Islands for destination weddings. Mesmerized by the film's spectacular scenery, fans booked trips to this Mediterranean paradise to have a Big Fat Greek Wedding of their own.

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When Endless Summer came out in 1966, not only did it increase the popularity of surfing in general, but it also created a 'surf and travel' culture that inspired surfers, experts and novices alike, to travel the world in search of the perfect wave.9601280

When Endless Summer came out in 1966, not only did it increase the popularity of surfing in general, but it also created a 'surf and travel' culture that inspired surfers, experts and novices alike, to travel the world in search of the perfect wave.

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In Sideways, 2 middle-aged men, Miles and Jack, try to recapture their carefree days with a mancation centered around wine and women. The movie created a huge boost to tourism not only to the Napa wine region, but also to Santa Barbara's wine country, where most of the movie took place.9601280

In Sideways, 2 middle-aged men, Miles and Jack, try to recapture their carefree days with a mancation centered around wine and women. The movie created a huge boost to tourism not only to the Napa wine region, but also to Santa Barbara's wine country, where most of the movie took place.

Mark Rasmussen

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Think you can only visit J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle Earth in your imagination? Escape into the epic fantasy of Lord of the Rings by visiting one of the locations in the film, Milton Sound (pictured here) in the South Island, New Zealand.9601280

Think you can only visit J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle Earth in your imagination? Escape into the epic fantasy of Lord of the Rings by visiting one of the locations in the film, Milton Sound (pictured here) in the South Island, New Zealand.

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The draw of Out of Africa isn't just icons Robert Redford and Meryl Streep playing passionate lovers, but stunning scenes of Kenya's raw and untamed landscapes. After the movie was released, Kenya became a popular tourist destination for safaris.9601280

The draw of Out of Africa isn't just icons Robert Redford and Meryl Streep playing passionate lovers, but stunning scenes of Kenya's raw and untamed landscapes. After the movie was released, Kenya became a popular tourist destination for safaris.

Ludmila Yilmaz

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In Lost in Translation, 2 American strangers abroad form an unlikely bond in their isolation. Tokyo's high-energy culture wakes up their passion for life and for us, our passion for travel.9601280

In Lost in Translation, 2 American strangers abroad form an unlikely bond in their isolation. Tokyo's high-energy culture wakes up their passion for life and for us, our passion for travel.

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Under the Tuscan Sun , based on Frances Mayes' memoir, shows a recently divorced American woman venturing off to Italy to buy and restore a villa in Tuscany. The film inspired many travelers to seek out the film's locations in the stunning countryside. There has even been an increase in expats following in Mayes' footsteps and buying homes in the same area.9601280

Under the Tuscan Sun , based on Frances Mayes' memoir, shows a recently divorced American woman venturing off to Italy to buy and restore a villa in Tuscany. The film inspired many travelers to seek out the film's locations in the stunning countryside. There has even been an increase in expats following in Mayes' footsteps and buying homes in the same area.

Dan Bannister

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The Twilight phenomenon breathed new life into the town of Forks, WA, with "twihards" flocking in droves to the locations from the book/film. Vampire- and werewolf-scouting aside, La Push (pictured here) is 12 miles from Forks and home to some of the most stunning scenery on the Olympic Peninsula.9601280

The Twilight phenomenon breathed new life into the town of Forks, WA, with "twihards" flocking in droves to the locations from the book/film. Vampire- and werewolf-scouting aside, La Push (pictured here) is 12 miles from Forks and home to some of the most stunning scenery on the Olympic Peninsula.

Sonja Yearsley

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The film Amelie shows a whimsical side of Paris with the story of a secret matchmaker who kindles many love affairs in the city, and then finally gets one of her own. With beautiful shots of the city, the film rekindles our love affair with Paris.9601280

The film Amelie shows a whimsical side of Paris with the story of a secret matchmaker who kindles many love affairs in the city, and then finally gets one of her own. With beautiful shots of the city, the film rekindles our love affair with Paris.

Erick Nguyen

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In Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona 2 friends spend a summer in Spain and unbeknownst, have an affair with the same painter. It wasn't just the stunning cast and sexy plot, but the iconic shots of summer in Barcelona that left us seduced by Spain. 9601280

In Woody Allen's Vicky Cristina Barcelona 2 friends spend a summer in Spain and unbeknownst, have an affair with the same painter. It wasn't just the stunning cast and sexy plot, but the iconic shots of summer in Barcelona that left us seduced by Spain.

Cannes Film Festival

A broad view of Cannes prior to the annual film festival in France.9601280

A broad view of Cannes prior to the annual film festival in France.

Francois Durand / Getty Images

66th Annual Cannes Film Fest

66th Annual Cannes Film Fest

A poster of legendary actors (and real-life duo) Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward is unveiled in advance of the 66th Cannes Film Festival in May 2013. 9601280

A poster of legendary actors (and real-life duo) Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward is unveiled in advance of the 66th Cannes Film Festival in May 2013.

Ming Yeung/Getty Images

Cannes' Picture-Perfect Beaches

Cannes' Picture-Perfect Beaches

Located in France's Côte D'Azur (French Riviera), the annual Cannes International Film Festival draws Hollywood's elite and in the summer months the same beautiful crowd comes to enjoy the town's picture-perfect beaches and chic resorts. 9601280

Located in France's Côte D'Azur (French Riviera), the annual Cannes International Film Festival draws Hollywood's elite and in the summer months the same beautiful crowd comes to enjoy the town's picture-perfect beaches and chic resorts.

Reuters

Venice Film Festival

Venice Film Festival

When not taking in the stars and films, visitors to the Venice Film Festival can navigate the canals courtesy of a gondola ride and take a stroll over the Rialto Bridge.9601280

When not taking in the stars and films, visitors to the Venice Film Festival can navigate the canals courtesy of a gondola ride and take a stroll over the Rialto Bridge.

Eric Delmar

Sundance Film Festival

Sundance Film Festival

The Sundance Film Festival is a 10-day event held every January in Park City, UT, showcasing independent movies from all over the world. Named for Robert Redford's character in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the festival has seen Redford play an integral part in building the festival's status over the years.9601280

The Sundance Film Festival is a 10-day event held every January in Park City, UT, showcasing independent movies from all over the world. Named for Robert Redford's character in Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, the festival has seen Redford play an integral part in building the festival's status over the years.

Sundance Film Festival

Park City's Main Street

Park City's Main Street

Snowy Main Street is a hub of activity during the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT.9601280

Snowy Main Street is a hub of activity during the annual Sundance Film Festival in Park City, UT.

Reuters

Berlin International Film Festival

Berlin International Film Festival

The crowd buzzes at the Berlinale-Palast for the opening night of the Berlin International Film Festival.9601280

The crowd buzzes at the Berlinale-Palast for the opening night of the Berlin International Film Festival.

Internationale Filmfestspiele Berlin

Hong Kong International Film Festival

Hong Kong International Film Festival

Workers erect the largest outdoor airscreen, which is 39 feet high and 79 feet wide in Asia at the Tamar site during the Hong Kong International Film Festival. 9601280

Workers erect the largest outdoor airscreen, which is 39 feet high and 79 feet wide in Asia at the Tamar site during the Hong Kong International Film Festival.

Getty Images

Tribeca Film Festival

Tribeca Film Festival

Tribeca, one of downtown Manhattan's hippest neighborhoods, hosts the annual Tribeca Film Festival each year in the spring.9601280

Tribeca, one of downtown Manhattan's hippest neighborhoods, hosts the annual Tribeca Film Festival each year in the spring.

Jason Rodman, flickr

Tribeca Talks: Directors Series

Tribeca Talks: Directors Series

Film lovers line up to hear actor-director Clint Eastwood and Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky at the Tribeca Talks: Directors Series at the April 2013 festival in NYC.9601280

Film lovers line up to hear actor-director Clint Eastwood and Black Swan director Darren Aronofsky at the Tribeca Talks: Directors Series at the April 2013 festival in NYC.

Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images

Toronto International Film Festival

Toronto International Film Festival

Actors, filmmakers and other industry insiders head to Toronto each fall for the Toronto International Film Festival.9601280

Actors, filmmakers and other industry insiders head to Toronto each fall for the Toronto International Film Festival.

Getty

Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall

Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall

Workers prepare the red carpet area at Roy Thomson Hall for the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto.9601280

Workers prepare the red carpet area at Roy Thomson Hall for the Toronto International Film Festival in Toronto.

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The Descendants -- Hawaii Though Hawaii often serves as a beautiful background in movies, The Descendants offers us an insider’s view of the “real” Hawaii -- a paradise, yes, but also one that still has domestic dramas and real estate wars just like mainland US. But we still have plenty of reason to dream about the state’s warm blue waters and pristine beaches. 9601280

The Descendants -- Hawaii Though Hawaii often serves as a beautiful background in movies, The Descendants offers us an insider’s view of the “real” Hawaii -- a paradise, yes, but also one that still has domestic dramas and real estate wars just like mainland US. But we still have plenty of reason to dream about the state’s warm blue waters and pristine beaches.

Monica and Michael Sweet

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Midnight in Paris -- Paris In Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, the City of Lights gets even more bewitching when the clock strikes midnight. For lucky Gil Bender, this is the magic hour when he can walk into 1920s Paris to muse with the day’s most famous writers and artists over aperitifs and jazz. But Paris will always be magical to us, no matter the era. 9601280

Midnight in Paris -- Paris In Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris, the City of Lights gets even more bewitching when the clock strikes midnight. For lucky Gil Bender, this is the magic hour when he can walk into 1920s Paris to muse with the day’s most famous writers and artists over aperitifs and jazz. But Paris will always be magical to us, no matter the era.

TongRo Image Stock

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War Horse -- England Steven Spielberg's War Horse is a World War I drama about a young man and his horse, with rural England as the stunning backdrop. Spielberg says the film's location, Dartmoor, is the third character: “There's no place like it in the world."9601280

War Horse -- England Steven Spielberg's War Horse is a World War I drama about a young man and his horse, with rural England as the stunning backdrop. Spielberg says the film's location, Dartmoor, is the third character: “There's no place like it in the world."

Jupiterimages

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The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo -- Stockholm With the success of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, Stockholm has seen a rise in tourism. Droves of fans have been heading to Sweden’s capital to search out the locations used in Stieg Larsson’s dark crime thrillers, even if some places don’t exist at all. 9601280

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo -- Stockholm With the success of The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo trilogy, Stockholm has seen a rise in tourism. Droves of fans have been heading to Sweden’s capital to search out the locations used in Stieg Larsson’s dark crime thrillers, even if some places don’t exist at all.

Andrej Kropotov

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Drive -- LA “There are 100,000 streets in this city …” says Ryan Gosling’s getaway-car driver character about LA in Drive. And he shows us many that most tourists won’t see, inspiring us to take our own detour of LA, preferably in an equally cool ride. 9601280

Drive -- LA “There are 100,000 streets in this city …” says Ryan Gosling’s getaway-car driver character about LA in Drive. And he shows us many that most tourists won’t see, inspiring us to take our own detour of LA, preferably in an equally cool ride.

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Pirates of the Caribbean -- Caribbean Lest we were about to tire of the Pirates franchise, this past year’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, made up for it with stunning shots of the Caribbean: all remote, wild and magical. 9601280

Pirates of the Caribbean -- Caribbean Lest we were about to tire of the Pirates franchise, this past year’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, made up for it with stunning shots of the Caribbean: all remote, wild and magical.

Creatas Images

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Snow Flower and the Secret Fan -- Shanghai In the film Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, we see contrasting scenes of both 19th-century and present-day Shanghai. With beautiful scenes of both periods, we’re equally inspired to see the temples and Chinese gardens of old Shanghai, as well as the designer hotels and metropolis cityscapes of the modern city. 9601280

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan -- Shanghai In the film Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, we see contrasting scenes of both 19th-century and present-day Shanghai. With beautiful scenes of both periods, we’re equally inspired to see the temples and Chinese gardens of old Shanghai, as well as the designer hotels and metropolis cityscapes of the modern city.

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Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 -- Theme Park and EnglandWhat do Harry Potter fanatics do after all the movies are over? Hop on a broomstick, naturally, and fly to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a theme park at the Universal Orlando Resort. Or visit locations such as the Alnwick Castle in England, a backdrop in the first 2 movies. 9601280

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 -- Theme Park and EnglandWhat do Harry Potter fanatics do after all the movies are over? Hop on a broomstick, naturally, and fly to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, a theme park at the Universal Orlando Resort. Or visit locations such as the Alnwick Castle in England, a backdrop in the first 2 movies.

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Soul Surfer -- HawaiiSoul Surfer is more than just another surf-and-travel movie; it’s not just about searching for the perfect wave. It tells the inspiring tale of 13-year-old Bethany Hamilton, a young surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack. Whether or a not you surf, you’ll feel drawn to the waves and the film’s location in Kauai, HI. 9601280

Soul Surfer -- HawaiiSoul Surfer is more than just another surf-and-travel movie; it’s not just about searching for the perfect wave. It tells the inspiring tale of 13-year-old Bethany Hamilton, a young surfer who lost her arm in a shark attack. Whether or a not you surf, you’ll feel drawn to the waves and the film’s location in Kauai, HI.

Goodshoot

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Hangover 2 -- Bangkok Debauchery at its finest, Hangover 2 may not be on our list for its cinematic merits, but we know there’s a lot more to Bangkok than shady hotels and raucous nightlife. So this movie showed us what not to do when visiting. 9601280

Hangover 2 -- Bangkok Debauchery at its finest, Hangover 2 may not be on our list for its cinematic merits, but we know there’s a lot more to Bangkok than shady hotels and raucous nightlife. So this movie showed us what not to do when visiting.